Matthew 9: Jesus Heals and Calls Sinners

Short answer: Matthew 9 continues Jesus' ministry of healing and forgiveness, from the paralytic lowered through the roof to the calling of Matthew and the raising of a ruler's daughter. It highlights Jesus' authority over sin, sickness, and death, and his compassion for crowds who are like sheep without a shepherd.

What Matthew 9 says

The chapter opens with Jesus returning to his own city, where a paralyzed man is brought to him on a bed. Seeing the faith of those who brought him, Jesus first addresses the man's sins, which provokes scribes to accuse him of blasphemy in their hearts. Jesus responds by healing the man to demonstrate his authority to forgive sins. The crowd marvels and glorifies God. This sequence shows that Jesus' primary concern is not merely physical healing but the restoration of the whole person, and it establishes his divine authority. The healing serves as a visible sign of an invisible forgiveness, and the reaction of the scribes reveals growing opposition.

Jesus then calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. Matthew immediately rises and follows. Later, while Jesus is dining in a house, many tax collectors and sinners join him. The Pharisees question his disciples about why their teacher eats with such people. Jesus answers that the healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. He tells them to learn what it means that God desires mercy, not sacrifice, and declares that he came to call sinners, not the righteous. This section emphasizes Jesus' mission to those on the margins and his willingness to associate with those considered unclean by religious leaders.

Next, John's disciples ask why Jesus' disciples do not fast while they and the Pharisees do. Jesus responds with a parable about a bridegroom and his friends, explaining that fasting will come later when the bridegroom is taken away. He then gives two illustrations: a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins. Both show that his coming brings something new that cannot be contained within the old forms. This teaching addresses the tension between the old covenant practices and the new reality Jesus inaugurates, without dismissing the old entirely but pointing to its fulfillment in him.

The chapter then narrates two intertwined healings. A ruler comes and asks Jesus to lay his hand on his dead daughter. On the way, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touches the fringe of his garment and is healed. Jesus turns, calls her daughter, and commends her faith. When he arrives at the ruler's house, he dismisses the noisy crowd, saying the girl is sleeping, and they ridicule him. He takes her hand, and she rises. The report spreads. Finally, two blind men follow Jesus, asking for mercy. He heals them according to their faith, but they disobey his command to keep quiet. A mute demon-possessed man is also healed, and the crowd marvels while Pharisees attribute his power to the prince of demons. Jesus continues teaching and healing, and seeing the harassed crowds, he tells his disciples to pray for laborers for the plentiful harvest.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.” (Matthew 9:2)” (Matthew 9:2) — This verse introduces the first healing and shows that Jesus prioritizes forgiveness of sins, linking physical restoration to spiritual need and revealing his divine authority.
• “As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9) — The call of Matthew demonstrates that Jesus invites even those despised by society, and Matthew's immediate response models radical discipleship.
• “But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”” (Matthew 9:13) — Jesus quotes Hosea to emphasize mercy over sacrifice, clarifying that his mission targets sinners, not the self-righteous, which challenges religious exclusivity.
• “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) — This verse reveals Jesus' deep compassion for the crowds, seeing them as harassed and helpless, which motivates his call for laborers to join the harvest.

Gospel connection

Matthew 9 fits within the larger biblical story by showing Jesus as the promised Messiah who brings forgiveness, healing, and restoration. His authority to forgive sins, which only God can do, points to his divine identity. The call of Matthew and the fellowship with sinners foreshadow the inclusion of Gentiles and outcasts into God's family. The healings of the woman, the girl, and the blind men demonstrate that the kingdom of God breaks into a broken world, reversing the effects of sin and death. Jesus' teaching about new wine and new wineskins signals that his coming fulfills and transforms the old covenant, establishing a new way of relating to God. The chapter ends with Jesus' compassion for the crowds and his instruction to pray for laborers, anticipating the church's mission to carry this good news to all nations. Ultimately, these events point forward to Jesus' death and resurrection, where the bridegroom is taken away and the new covenant is sealed.

Application

This chapter asks readers to trust Jesus with their deepest needs, not just physical ailments but the forgiveness of sins. Like the friends who brought the paralytic, we are called to bring others to Jesus, sometimes through creative persistence. Like Matthew, we are invited to leave our old life and follow him immediately, regardless of our past. The Pharisees' criticism challenges us to examine whether we extend mercy to those on the margins or withdraw in self-righteousness. The woman's faith encourages us to reach out to Jesus even in our weakness, believing that a touch of his garment is enough. The ruler's plea teaches us to bring our grief and desperation to him. Finally, Jesus' compassion for the harassed crowds calls us to see people as he does and to pray for workers to join the harvest, perhaps even becoming one ourselves. This chapter is a call to active faith, compassionate service, and dependence on Jesus' authority.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that everyone Jesus healed had faith, nor does it suggest that sickness is always a direct result of personal sin. It does not record the paralytic's own words or faith, only that Jesus saw the faith of those who brought him. The text does not explain how the woman's bleeding was stopped or how the girl was raised, nor does it give details about the afterlife or the nature of death as sleep. It does not say that fasting is wrong, only that it was inappropriate while the bridegroom was present. The chapter does not identify the ruler by name or specify his synagogue. It does not tell us what happened to the two blind men after they spread the report, nor does it explain why Jesus wanted silence. The Pharisees' accusation about the prince of demons is recorded but not affirmed. The chapter does not claim that Jesus healed every single person in every city, but it says he healed every disease and sickness among the people, which is a general summary. It does not describe the content of Jesus' teaching in the synagogues beyond the good news of the kingdom.

Questions for study

1. Why did Jesus first forgive the paralytic's sins instead of healing him immediately, and what does this reveal about his priorities?
2. What does Matthew's immediate response to Jesus' call teach us about discipleship and obedience?
3. How does Jesus' response to the Pharisees in verses 12 and 13 challenge our attitudes toward those outside the church?
4. What is the meaning of the new wine and new wineskins, and how does it apply to our lives today?
5. In what ways does Jesus' compassion for the crowds in verse 36 motivate us to pray and act for others?

Keep reading

Related studies: Matthew 1 Bible Study, Matthew 10 Bible Study, Matthew 12 Bible Study, Matthew 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did Jesus tell the healed blind men not to spread the news?

The text does not explain his reason, but it shows that Jesus often sought to control the timing of his public revelation. The men disobeyed and spread his fame anyway.

What does it mean that the girl was not dead but sleeping?

Jesus used sleep as a metaphor for death, indicating that her death was temporary and he would awaken her. The crowd understood she was dead and ridiculed him.

Why did Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?

He explained that he came to call sinners, not the righteous, and that those who are sick need a physician. His mission was to bring mercy and repentance to those who knew their need.